Using 12-seater helicopters, FastSky will operate tours from Hanoi to northern tourist destinations including the Red River and Halong Bay, forming the start-up’s SkyTour category of products.

Other use categories of FastSky include SkyWedding, for wedding photography, and SkySOS, for emergencies that require helicopters to pick up patients from Hanoi skyscrapers.

FastGo is the technology provider and has a partner operating helicopters and pilots. Tuan said the partner is permitted to fly in Vietnam, without disclosing the company’s name.

FastGo began operations last June, a few months after Uber announced its exit from South-east Asia. After expanding into Myanmar last year, it now plans to launch operations in Singapore this month and in five other countries in the region, including Indonesia and the Philippines, by the end of the year.

With almost 60,000 drivers on board, the company claims to be the second most popular ride-hailing firm in Vietnam after Grab.